ICPC docks Kwara poly governing council ex-chairman over bribery allegation

The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has charged a former chairman of the governing council of Kwara State Polytechnic, Ilorin, Dr. Saadu Ayinla Alanamu, to court for allegedly collecting a bribe from a contractor.

Alanamu is facing an eight-count charge before Justice Mahmud Abdul Gafar of the Kwara State High Court 7, Ilorin, along with the Chief Executive Director of Namylas Nig. Ltd, Salman Sulaiman.

The commission, in the charge sheet, accused Alanamu, who was also the chairman of the Kwara State Polytechnic Tenders Board, of collecting N5 million bribe from a contractor, Salman Sulaiman as kickback for the award of a contract.

Counsel to ICPC, Sunny Ezeana, told the court that Alanamu received the bribe money through his First Bank account on February 11, 2015 from Namylas Nig. Ltd, a company owned by Sulaiman who is also his friend.

The court heard that Alanamu ensured that the contract for the construction and furnishing of an auditorium in Kwara State Polytechnic, at the cost of N182, 369, 625.00, was awarded to Namylas, even when it was found that the company was not qualified to execute the contract.

ICPC alleged that its investigation into the petition had revealed strong evidence of collusion, bid rigging and corrupt practices against Namylas and that the company used falsified, forged and doctored PENCOM Compliance Certificate, Tax Clearance Certificate and ITF Certificate of Compliance during the bidding.

Sulaiman was accused of bribing a government official when he paid N5 million through a Guarantee Trust Bank account to Alanamu, as a reward for the award of contract to his company, thereby committing an offence contrary to Section 9(1) (a) and punishable under Section 9(1) (b) of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act, 2000.

Their offences are also in violation of Sections 8 (1) (a), 10(a) (i), 18 (b), 19 and 22(1) (a) (i) of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act, 2000 and punishable under the aforementioned sections.

The accused pleaded not guilty to the charges when they were read to them. The trial judge, Justice Abdul Gafar then granted them bail in the sum of N2 million with two sureties in like sum each. One of the sureties for each of them must have a landed property in Ilorin.The matter was then adjourned to October 12, 2017 for pre-trial hearing in line with Section 3 of the Kwara State High Court Practice Direction, 2013, after which a new date for trial would be set.